[04-06-2025] Sonoma County, CA – 3-Year-Old Child Killed by Tractor, Driver Arrested for Suspected DUI Near Petaluma

A 3-year-old child was tragically killed after being struck by a tractor on a property near Petaluma on Sunday afternoon, April 6, 2025.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal incident occurred around 12:35 p.m. on Skillman Lane, a rural agricultural road northwest of downtown Petaluma. Authorities reported that the child ran into a field and was hit by a Bobcat tractor operated by a man who showed signs of intoxication.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene. Fire crews from Rancho Adobe and Petaluma, along with emergency medical personnel and the Sonoma County Coroner’s Bureau, responded to the incident.

CHP Officer David deRutte stated that the man was expected to be taken to the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter.

The identity of the tractor’s driver has not been released, and it is unclear whether the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will be filing charges.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Contact Trusted DUI Accident Lawyers In Petaluma, CA

Every year, countless lives are tragically affected by drunk driving accidents. Despite strict laws and public awareness campaigns, these preventable crashes continue to happen. Victims are often left with severe injuries, long-term disabilities, or the loss of a loved one. If you or someone you care about was the victim of a DUI driver, talk to one of our Petaluma DUI accident victim lawyers.

Under the leadership of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., our attorneys will thoroughly evaluate your case, outline your legal options, and gather essential evidence such as police reports, medical records, and witness statements to build a strong claim. With more than $750 million recovered through verdicts and settlements, our injury law firm has earned a reputation for achieving successful outcomes, even in the most challenging cases.

Call us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form to schedule your free consultation today. Let us help you take the first step toward recovery.

How to Protect Yourself After A DUI Accident In Petaluma, CA

Anything you do immediately after a DUI accident can significantly affect your physical and financial recovery. Follow these steps to protect your well-being and legal rights:

1. Stay calm and move to a safer area if you can. Assess your condition before checking other people involved.
2. Call 911 immediately so paramedics and local authorities can respond to the scene. This can also quickly alert nearby officers if the impaired driver is trying to commit a hit-and-run.
3. Don’t engage with the intoxicated or drugged driver. Their behavior may be unpredictable; let the police handle the situation with them.
4. If you’re able, take photos and videos of the scene. Capture the scene from different angles and highlight important details like visible injuries, property damage, road marks, debris from the accident, etc.
5. Politely request any witnesses to provide statements to the police. Ask for their phone number, as well, in case you need to contact them later.
6. Seek a thorough medical evaluation, even if you feel fine. Some injuries might not show symptoms immediately.
7. Consult our lawyers in Petaluma for DUI accident victims. The sooner you get legal representation, the better. Our attorneys can work immediately to protect your rights and preserve evidence.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

DUI Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2020, 11,654 fatalities resulted from crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, accounting for 30% of all traffic deaths in the U.S. This marked a 14.3% increase from 2019 when 10,196 deaths were recorded.

On average, a drunk driving fatality occurred every 45 minutes. The 21 to 24 and 25 to 34 age groups had the highest percentage of impaired drivers in fatal crashes, each making up 26% of such incidents.

Among vehicle types, motorcycle riders had the highest rate of alcohol impairment in fatal crashes at 27%, followed by passenger car drivers (23%), light truck drivers (19%), and large truck drivers (3%).

Of the 1,093 traffic fatalities in 2020 involving children aged 14 and younger, 21% (229 deaths) were linked to alcohol-impaired crashes. Additionally, 67% (7,831 deaths) of all DUI-related fatalities involved a driver with a BAC of 0.15 g/dL or higher.

Drunk driving was 3.1 times more common at night in fatal crashes than during the day.